Back-up post for rotary tables



March 10, 1925. 1,528,818

J. J. ELMS BACKUP POST FOR ROTARY TABLES Filed Jan. 5, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l %V .1514! g NENTOR.

' March 10, 1925. 1,528,818

J.- LMS Patented Mar. 10, 1925. 7 UNITED sures PA ENT JOSEPH J. ELMS, 0F FOB/J. WORTH, TEXAS.

BACK-III ros'r ron ROTARY, TABLES.

Application .filcd January 5, .1924.

To all/whom it may Be it knownthat j citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Worth, in the county of Tarrant and State of T'exas, .l iav,e invented certain newand useful Improvements in Back-Up Posts for Rotary Tables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gas and oil well equipment and refers more particularly to certain improvements in back up posts for said equipment.

An object of the invention is the provision of a post having an element or elements therein which may be actuated to re lease the tension on the chain tongs used with said equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a post which will be normally rigid in relation to the handle of the tongs.

A feature of the invention is the simplicity of construction, there being but a few simple working parts. Another advantage is the rapidity of the release of the tension on the tongs, thereby effecting a saving of time, which is of fundamental importance in the operation of the equipment.

The above objects, features and advantages are shown more clearly in the following description, taken in connection with the annexed drawings and in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the movable extension of the post which forms a partof the device.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a portion of the device.

Figure 4 is aside elevation of the pin actuating lever.

Figure 5 is a view partly in section of the pin and the spool attachment thereon.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a view of the device in operative position with the chain tongs on the rotary table and drill stem.

Continuing the description of the invention more in detail; the body of the back up post 1, has a divided head 1*. This head, adjacent its upper end has openings adapt ed to receive apin 3. This pin passes through a member 2, and pivots this member between the divisions in the head 1.

At or adjacent the lower portion of this head is an L shaped member 8, through the I, Josnri-i J. EI MS, a'

tion 2 of the member 2.

Serial No. 684,496.

upright portion of which a pin 4 is slidably engaged. This pin is adapted to be movable intovtheenlarged fan shaped sec- I The members adapted tocontrol thefoperation' of this pin willbe more fully described hereinafter.

The fan shaped section 2* beveled off at points 2 to allow it to move over the end of the pin 4 until point A is reached, and has a curved surface 2 to allow it to move freely on pivot pin 3, when the pin 4 is not inserted in opening a.

The pin controlling members will now be described.

A lever 10, having an angularly disposed head 10 thereon is pivoted at point 9 to gpright projections 9 on the L shaped memer 8.. i

The head 10 is adapted to engage a spool 5 which is riveted'to pin 4 by a small pin 6. The spring 7 normally holds the spool against the body of the head 1.

As the lever 10 is depressed, the spool and pin 4, are drawn out of the aperture or opening A in member 2, and this member is released.

In operation, the tones 15. which are in place upon the grief joint 11 of drill stem or casing 12, have their handle 14 against the member 2 pivoted on the post 1.

The post is set in the rotary table 13. As the rotary table moves around the drill stem or casing, he tongs are held rigidly and the grief joint is screwed up or unscrewed as may be desire During the operation, the member 2 is engaged by the pin 4 to be in alignment with the post 1.

After the operation, the pin 4 is released from the member 2 which frees this member and releases the pressure against the handle of the tongs. They may then easily be disengaged from the grief joint.

The members controlling the pin operation may vary, as may the shape of the member 2 without departing from the spirit and principle of the invention, the form shown being merely a preferred embodiment of the invention.

\Vhat is claimed is 1. In combination with a rotary element and a bifurcated back up post, an apertured extension pivoted to the bifurcated end of said post to permit a limited oscillatthereof and having a fan mg movement shaped end thereon, one s de of sa d end provided with a cam surface; carrying means spaced from an end of the post; a spring pressed detent on said carrying means, said detent arranged so as to normally engage the aperture in said extension to lock the same in vertical position; an annularly grooved spool rigid on said detent,

and a pivoted lever having an end engageable with the groove on said spool to efiect release of the detent from the aperture in said extension when said lever is depressed.

2. In combination with a table and a bifurcated back up post, an extension pivoted JOSEPH J. ELMS. 

